West High Diamond Dancers
Mia Nelson, T’Reaia Malone, Leah Anderson, Ciara Klinghammer and Emily Monroe received a Division one for their state solo.
November 3, 2017
Teamwork is the soul of the sport of dance and it shows in the West High Diamond Dancers. The Diamond Dancers not only dance at both home football and basketball games, but compete in competitions as well.
With practices every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 a.m.-7:30 a.m., the girls go through processes to perfect each dance before competition. Their coach, Sam Zust, choreographs dances for team state on Nov. 4 and state solo Dec.1.
“It is great coaching these girls and getting them focused for state on December first,” Zust said.
Practices begin with the team learning sidelines, then state routine, and end with cleaning state routines to make sure the dance meets goals and expectations.
Senior Ciara Klinghammer is on her final season of being a Diamond Dancer for four years and has high hopes for the outcome at state.
“Hopefully we work really hard to place at state because I know that last year when we got a division one instead of placing in pom, it was really hard on us,” Klinghammer said.
Klinghammer is participating in state solos along with six other teammates.
Zust’s goal for the soloists is for them to have fun and do their best. Junior Mia Nelson is on her second year of being a Diamond Dancer and decided to do a state solo because of the experience she has had from her studio.
“I compete with solos a lot for my studios and I want a division one for my solo this year,” Nelson said.
The team’s overall goal is to go to state but before they do that, they must build the bond between the team. The girls do team bonding and spend time together at camps to strengthen their teamwork.
“There can be a lot of attitude but we are like sisters and we do everything together,” Klinghammer said.
Each teammate has created their own goals to improve each year. Junior and three year Diamond Dancer Leah Anderson believes she has grown each year as a dancer.
“My freshmen year I was awful. The coaches that I have had have really built me up to the dancer I am now, and I think that goes for everyone. We have all grown a lot,” Anderson said.
